PICTURE: Mykola Temniuk struck the winner for still unbeaten league-leading FC Vorkuta, increasing his personal output to 12 goals while staying on top of the CSL First Division scorers.
FC Vorkuta continued its winning way with a 1-0 away victory at Waterloo, Brantford Galaxy and Hamilton City both scored home victories to improve their playoff chances, and in a hard fought game FC Ukraine United and Serbian White Eagles settled for a 1-1 draw, which did little in their bid for a late-season opportunity to acheive First Division honours.
Waterloo kicked off in attacking style against league-leading Vorkuta at RIM Park in Waterloo and goalkeeper Olexandr Musiienko’s early saves kept the home side off the scoresheet.
Vorkuta took the lead at 37 minutes when league-leading goalscorer Mykola Temniuk collected a pass from Sehii Ursulenko to send a powerful drive from 25 yards into the far corner of the net out of reach of Waterloo goalkeeper Dalibor Ivanovic. It was Temniuk’s 12th goal of the season.
Temniuk came close more than once in an effort to increase the 1-0 lead, but Ivanovic’s goalkeeping was a good reason for the score remaining 1-0 through to the final whistle.
The victory for Vorkuta improves the league leader’s record to 11-0-3 WLT for 36 points to now lead second place team Scarborough by 7 points. Scarborough has a game in hand. Waterloo is at 6-7-1 for 19 points in fifth position.
The 1-1 deadlock by Ukraine United and Serbian White Eagles was well-played and physical at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, with both teams anxious to pick-up points in the First Division race.
Following a goalless first half, midfielder Vladimir Strizovic opened the scoring for Serbian White Eagles at 54 minutes, a drive from inside the box off a corner kick, and Ukraine United midfielder Eugen Ischak equalized at 70 minutes, heading in off a corner kick. Ukraine found the net earlier in the second half, but Ihor Sorotoskyi’s strike was ruled offside.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with two players from each side, Ivan Kucherenko and Bohdan Skotskyi of FC Ukraine United and Mirko Medic and Vladimir Strizovic of Serbian White Eagles were shown red cards for Violent Conduct at 90 minutes following an altercation.
Serbian White Eagles are in third position in the standings with a 7-4-3 record for 24 points, while Ukraine United has a 6-4-2 record for 20 points in fourth position in the table.
Midfielder Andrej Prpa struck twice for Brantford Galaxy in its important 3-1 victory over Kingsman at the Cardinal Newman ground, two goals at 53 and 55 minutes to give the home side the win and a chance to obtain a playoff spot during the late season games. The goals came after Donart Beqiri of the Galaxy opened the scoring to give the home side a 1-0 lead at 31 minutes. Midfielder Denys Diachenko scored the lone Kingsman marker at 85 minutes to cut the score to 3-1 in favour of Brantford Galaxy.
The Galaxy has six games remaining with a record of 2-9-1 for 7 points and tied at the foot of the table with Real Mississauga, while Kingsman are in sixth position with a 5-7-1 for 16 points.
Hamilton City, a side also bidding to be one of eight to qualify for the post-season playoffs, gained its third win of the season with the 3-2 victory over CSC Mississauga at the Cardinal Newman ground. Hamilton now has a 3-5-3 record for 12 points in seventh position, while CSC Mississauga is in eighth position with a 3-10-1 record for 10 points.
Midweek Games in the CSL
EXHIBITION GAME POSTPONED
Wed., August 28 Ontario Soccer Centre 8 pm FC Vorkuta vs Sure Sports FC (Maryland) – postponed. A new venue early September is being considered.
CSL SECOND DIVISION
Tues. August 27 Ontario Soccer Centre 9 pm CSC Mississauga B vs Kingsman B
Wed. August 28, Cardinal Newman 7 pm Brantford Galaxy B vs Hamilton City B
